3 Key Historical Sites Around Son Bou

Renting out villas in San Jaime is a popular choice for tourists visiting Menorca, partially because of how close they are to the fantastic sandy beaches of Son Bou.

Yet it is also worth noting that this region has a lot of history and you shouldn't miss the opportunity to learn more about its fascinating past. To help you do this, these three sites are easily accessible from Son Bou.

Torre d’en Gaumes

The Talaiotic culture once called Menorca home, and their legacy can be found in the various megolith structures that look like large, oversized tables – talaiots – that are scattered all over the island. Torre d’en Gaumes is one particularly well-preserved site near Son Bou, making it a must-see if you're staying nearby in the villas in San Jaime.

This particular settlement was one of the larger ones in Menorca, with a commanding view over the southern coast. Many prominent features of the settlement can still be seen to this day, from massive religious monuments in the shape of a gigantic T to a surprisingly complex rainfall water conservation system used to collect drinking water. The settlement was so liveable that even Roman settlers and Muslim refugees called Torre d’en Gaumes home for quite some time.

Rafal Rubi

If you’re looking for signs of Talaiotic culture in the less frequented parts of the island, then you may want to check out the burial mounds of Rafal Rubi. These mounds are a little way out from the resort, but their relative isolation gives them a distinctly mysterious feeling. The piled rocks served both as practical mass graves as well as gigantic, prehistoric monuments to the dead. Many of the seemingly simple structures belie their complex architecture, with some mounds containing two floors designed for the ritual burial of the dead.

Basilica Paleocristiana de Son Bou

Speaking of Roman influences, for those with a taste for Menorca’s history, the ruins of an ancient Christian settlement can be found near the villas in San Jaime and Son Bou.

Constructed by fifth-century Romans, the ruins of this early Christian basilica outline the structure’s foundations. They reveal where rooms and a central shrine would have been located when the structure was still intact. The ruins are surrounded by a sturdy wall, which would have been built to protect and demarcate the boundaries of the basilica. You can find a nearby necropolis dating back to the construction of the basilica as well. The site provides an interesting insight into how early Christianity spread throughout Europe and eventually the greater part of the world, and this is another must-see when visiting Son Bou.

Keep these three sites in mind if you're staying in any of the excellent villas in San Jaime and you’ll be able to better appreciate the rich history of this particular part of Menorca.

Author Plate

Brenda Jaaback is the Managing Director of Bartle Holidays. They can provide you with a wide selection of great villas in San Jaime on the beautiful island of Menorca. Bartle Holidays makes no warranty as to the accuracy of information contained in this article and excludes any liability of any kind for the information.